In early March there are always a few final seed orders still to do. From my most recent wanderings through catalogue pages, here are a few highlights:
Stokes Seeds lists a section of 13 large-fruited pumpkins with 鈥渋ntermediate鈥� tolerance to powdery mildew. They also list three smaller PM resistant pumpkins.
T&T Seeds features three colours in the new 鈥淜abloom鈥� Calibrachoa series known as 鈥淢illion Bells鈥� as well as a slightly more vigorous apricot and orange Calibrachoa called Crave Sunset. For nasturtium lovers there is Ladybird Cream Purple Spot, a dwarf nasturtium in cream with vivid purple throat markings.
I was attracted also by a听bicoloured cosmos in the T&T听catalogue. Candy Stripe grows one metre high and bears large white flowers tinted and edged in crimson. The bloom centres are golden. 鈥淣o two blooms are alike.鈥� I noticed, too, a European Fleuroselect award-winning Zinnia called Zahara Sunburst. 鈥淭he flowers open gold, followed by the appearance of a red stripe down the centre of each petal.鈥� I鈥檝e grown others in the Zahara series before and liked them, and Fleuroselect winners never disappoint.
Petunias. Most catalogues (T&T, William Dam, Stokes) list the 2015 All-America Selections award-winning African Sunset, a new spreading petunia in rich orange. Among the Easy Wave petunias are three new, velvety shades: Red Velour, Berry Velour, Burgundy velour.
William Dam Seeds lists a soft butter yellow marigold called Alumia Vanilla Cream. This company is the source too for Napoli and Nelson, two of the best carrots I鈥檝e ever grown, and Sangria, an excellent rosy-red French butterhead lettuce. Dam鈥檚 Portofino, a ridged, Romanesco style Italian zucchini, has long been a favourite in my garden. I鈥檝e chosen a newly listed small pie听pumpkin, Jack Sprat, to try. It is described as being tolerant to mildew.
New in orchids. In recent years, new propagation methods have made the Phalaenopsis orchid relatively inexpensive and popular as a gift plant. I鈥檝e had one for several years now on a kitchen window sill, where it blooms for months each year.
The plant鈥檚 common name, Moth Orchid, expresses the meaning of Phalaenopsis, from the Greek phalaina meaning moth and听opsis meaning likeness.
Soon to appear at plant retail outlets is a new style in Phalaenopsis that has been bred from a single plant originating in Hawaii as a mutation. Following much selective breeding, these new plants are being propagated and sold around the world.
The usual Phalaenopsis flower forms a large fan of petals above a three-lobed lip. In the new style of flower, the lip has enlarged to turn into a lower petal. The term for these flowers is 鈥淭ripetalum.鈥�
Depending upon whether his own Tripetalum plant is still in flower, Patrick van Adrichem of Kingfisher Orchids in Sidney may have it on display at the Orchid Show and Sale next weekend. He is hoping to acquire some from wholesalers for the show if plants are available in time.
Thanks to Patrick for this new information from the world of orchids.
听
GARDEN EVENTS
VRS meeting. Visitors are welcome to听join Victoria Rhododendron Society members on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Garth Homer Centre, 813听Darwin Ave. Speaker Bob Zimmerman will describe how he became enchanted with growing species rhododendrons in The Siren Song of the Species. Bob and his wife, Beth, operate Chimacun Woods, a nursery dedicated to producing these plants, mainly from seed. There is no charge for admission to the meeting. victoriarhodo.ca.
Peninsula meeting. The Peninsula Garden Club will meet on Monday at听7听p.m. in the Mary Winspear Centre in听Sidney. Dwight Pennell, owner of Integrity Sales and Distributors in Central Saanich, will present Quality soil: Gardener鈥檚 Gold. Dwight, who has been working with soils for over 20 years, will听share tips on creating soils that will make plants very happy. Visitors are welcome for a non-member drop-in fee of $5. The evening will include a juried parlour show, help from master gardeners, and garden items for sale. peninsulagardenclub.ca.
Flower arrangers. The Victoria Flower Arrangers Guild meeting on Tuesday at听7听p.m. in the Garth Homer Centre will听feature a workshop on The Principle of Design Rhythm, using the monochromatic colour scheme. Non-members are invited to attend and observe. victoriaflowerarrangers.ca.
Duncan Seedy Sunday. The Cowichan Green Community is hosting the Seventh听annual Duncan Seedy Sunday, 10 a.m to 2 p.m. this weekend in the Cowichan Tribes Gymnasium Si鈥檈m Lelum, 5574听River Rd. in Duncan. This family event will include more than 40听seed and garden vendors, displays, children鈥檚 activities, a seed swap and several presentations: saving seeds, the healing power of weeds, making your own natural fertilizers. Admission cost is听$2. Children 13 and under are admitted free.
